The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-01-12
IN THE WILD WEST.
Adventures of an Old Hunter Who
Was Scalped.

How He Supposed Himself Twice Dead
Three Angry Bears Fighting to q
Finish-the Fate of tho Victor.
1t has often been said that man can
not live after being scalped. One of
the Crow Indian scouts with Custer be-
fore that brave officer met his fate, was
caught by u party of Sioux alone on the
prairie and scalped alive. His enemies
cut pear-shaped piece out of the crown
of his head and left him writhing in
agony, supposing he would, of course,
die. Notwithstanding all of which, the
redskin recovered, and at last accounts
was living with his people on the Grow
reservation and doing we'll. There is
an old hunter in Western Montana
whose cabin is located on the eastern
slope of the Rocky mountains, who had
his hair raised some years ago by a band
of savages, and yet he lives and thrives
in most astonishing good health. The
old fellows name is Ganzio, and by
reason of his advanced years would, in
the natural course of events, have white
hair now, only that he has no hair at all
to speak of. Still, what little he has
got, is whitened or gray, the rest of his
head, "where the hair ought to grow"
being as bald as billiard-ball. To be
exact, Ganzio did not lose his entire
scalp, but only portion of it. The
probabilities are that he could not
have survived with the loss of the whole
top of his head. Some few years ago,
when Sitting Bull was master of this
country, Ganzio was the guide of an
emigrant party en- route to Fort Lar
annie, Wy. T.
The story of that dangerous expedi-
ton is an exceedingly interesting one,
and as related by himself runs as fol-
lows: zone day we were coming into
the valley of Hut creek, on our way to
s-Folc Laramie, when we thought we saw
Indians coming down the creek to the
right. Instead Of camping there, we
thought it safer to water our stock and
go ON to the hills and make dry camp
in the bushes. / had been sent on
ahead up to the hill to reconnoiter, and
took with me boy named Kountze,
from Omaha, merely for company. We
sat down to wait for the wagons, which
were slowly coming up out of the val
ley. When the wagons reached us
started on alone through the rocks and
pine bushes to seek good camp. A
few hundred yards further on I looked
down ravine to the right and saw five
mounted Indians ride across the valley.
l started to 60 back to the train, when
atleast dozen Indians ran at me out
of the brush, and you bet / ran and
called for help. In a minute more two
or three of them shot at me. / felt a
sharp, singing pain in my right leg,
and another in my left shoulder, and I
fell. Then they were upon me in a
minute, and one of them put his knee
on my back while another hit me a
clip with club. Another struck me
with the butt of gun, and then ]
became partly unconscious. Still
had reason and feeling enough left to
know that was being scalped; for the
hair held so tightly, and the pain was
so awful, that could not die then even
if wanted to. I felt a hot, singing
pain all around the top. of my head
the hair being torn out by the roots, SC
to speak-and it was too much. | died,
or at least l thought 1 did; but as it hap.
pened my scalp, or a part OF it, was
saved just as it was being torn off. The
bows at the wagon had seen me run.
ming; saw the Indians, and came at q
run-thirteen of them, ARRIVING just ir
time to prevent the red devils finishing
their work. The Indians, as well az
nv friends, thought I was dead. but
came to again, and what was left of my
scalp was laid back in place. It wa
only half torn off you see, and the place
is pretty well healed now"
ssWhat did you do with yourself at
terwarda" inquired.
.Why, I hurried into Fort Laramie
got the attention of physician ant
went back to the States for whilei bu
the Western fever came strong upon mt
again and I had to return to the noun
tains, where have been ever since. "
Observing four bear-skins on the foo
1.-TWO of them immense in size-one {
grizzly, one silver tip and two CHINA
mon hides), made bold to ask Mr.
Ganzio if he was the slayer himself OF
whether they had been obtained from
somebody else.
No." he replied, ibid not kill then
all, but bagged two out of four-tht
grizzly and the silver tip; and the Other
two cinnamon brutes were killed by the
very silver tip ! killed myself. -
THAT was a remarkable occurrence, .
ventured to say, "andif you have the
time to spare, Ganzio. | should like te
hear the stories connected with all
four"
.Well, you see, /" beganthe old timer,
"the grizzly hide over there on the
boards was killed more than twenty